Patients are considered for lung transplantation when their lung disease cannot be significantly improved by either medical therapy or surgery and there is a high probability of death. In some cases, the lung disease may also severely affect the function of the heart.
There are three options for lung transplantation:
- Single lung transplantation (replacement of one lung)
- Double lung transplantation (replacement of both lungs)
- Heart-lung transplantation (replacement of both lungs and the heart)
The type of transplant operation which is chosen depends on the specific type of lung disease and the patient's heart function.
- Pulmonary fibrosis
- Pulmonary hypertension
This type of transplant is done only if somatic growth is nearly complete and the single lung offered is of perfect size and health.
- Pulmonary fibrosis
- Primary pulmonary hypertension and other types of pulmonary vascular disease
- Interstitial lung disease
- Cystic fibrosis
- Pulmonary hypertension with structural heart defect(s) amenable to surgical repair
- Surfactant B protein deficiency
- Alveolar proteinosis
- Brochiolitis obliterans
- Pulmonary hypertension with structural heart defect(s) not amenable to surgical repair
- Patients with severe heart failure involving the left ventricle (main pumping chamber) in conjunction with the lung disease due to any of the conditions listed above